The　Nuclear　receptor　4A　(NR4A)　subfamily,　which　belongs　to　the　nuclear　receptor　(NR)　superfamily,　has　three　members:　NR4A1　(Nur77),　NR4A2　(Nurr1)　and　NR4A3　(Nor1).　They　are　gene　regulators　with　broad　involvement　in　various　signaling　pathways　and　human　disease　responses,　including　autophagy.　Here,　we　provide　a　concise　overview　of　the　current　understanding　of　the　role　of　the　NR4A　subfamily　members　in　human　diseases　and　review　the　research　into　their　regulation　of　cell　autophagy.　A　deeper　understanding　of　these　mechanisms　has　potential　to　improve　drug　development　processes　and　disease　therapy.　©　2020,　The　Author(s).